“A long complex song consisting of multiple consecutive series and trills of semimusical downslurred chip- and peep-like notes of varying pitch.”
Here is a good example:
The song consists of a simple note repeated continuously at a moderate rate (slow enough to count) for less than a minute. There are several distinct changes in the notes over the course of the song, however, and this can be used to break the song down into different series. There are also some trills present (notes too fast to count). We can also detect the following:
- The notes within a given series, while distinct from that of the adjacent series, are often unsteady, changing gradually in both pitch and quality.
- There are no significant pauses between series and the transition between series often includes gradational notes.
- Series are constructed from either medium frequency downslurred Chip-like notes (Chip, Kip) or higher frequency Peep-like notes (Peep, Cheep, Chirp). Some Chip-like notes are less sharply downslurred and therefore more musical, approaching a whistle (Tew, Pew).
- Series of a given note type are sometimes repeated within a song.
Metrics:
- Series length
- Note rate (series vs trills)
- Frequency
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Series 1: Chip Series
A Chip is defined by Pieplow as an “extremely brief, sharply downslurred note” with a pitch that is medium to high:
The sharply downslurred nature of the notes in the first series is clearly evident in the sonogram:
The first few Chips are quite short and steady in pitch then they quickly lengthen and rise and fall slightly in pitch.
Series 2: Kip series
Kip: Similar to: Red Crossbill
Pew: Like Tew, but with different consonant sound at start
Similar to: American Goldfinch
Tew: A sharply downslurred whistle; less sharp and more musical than Chip. Low and higher pitched versions.
Similar to: American Goldfinch
Peep- or Chirplike Notes: Very brief notes that start and end abruptly lower, creating the impression that they begin and/or end with the consonants “p” or “k”
Pip: Very brief, sharply overslurred whistle or semi-nasal note
Peep: Higher than Pip, and often longer.
Pseep: Like Peep, but higher, less sharp, with weaker consonant sound.
Chirp: A brief semimusical note, like Peep or Cheep but more complex. Pitch medium to high. Usually downslurred.
Cheep…
Songs
Calls